CHAPTER <b>0018 </b>


    Meadow’s POV:


    Pain.


    That was the first thing that I felt. It started at the base of my skull, slowly climbing up the sides of my head and my forehead.


    I blinked my eyes open slowly, feeling groggy as I tried to adjust to the soft white lights that surrounded me. I knew where I was the moment the smell of antiseptic hit my nostrils.


    I was in the hospital.


    My own sister<b>, </b>Juniper, had beat me up and I was almost raped by my <b>ex</b>–fiance. But someone had burst in through the doors and stopped them.


    ric.


    My heart rate picked up and I shifted, wincing as pain red in my head and thighs.


    And then I heard a voice. Not the one I was expecting to hear, but familiar all the same. Way too familiar.


    <b>“</b>Meadow<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    I turned my head slowly, and there she was.


    My best friend. Nova, sitting in a chair beside the bed.


    Her blond curls were a mess, eyeliner smudged like she hadn’t slept, and her hands trembled as they


    reached for mine.


    How was she here? Had I contacted her without realizing it?


    <b>“</b><b>Nova</b><b>?</b>” <b>My </b>voice cracked. “What are you doing here? And why do you look like you haven’t slept for


    days<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    Nova didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she practically threw herself onto my body, wrapping her arms around me in a hug that made me wince.


    “Oh my god, I’m so d you’re okay!” she sobbed.


    <b>“</b>Me too,” I choked out as I found it difficult to breathe. “You can let go now. You’re crushing my organs.”


    “Sorry<i>,” </i>she whispered, letting out a wetugh as she pulled away from me.


    And then I looked at her. Really looked at her.


    Nova and I had been best friends right from high school and through most of our college years before I


    +15 <b>BONUS </b>


    <b>had </b><b>to </b>drop out.


    Reasons for dropping <b>out</b>? Your guess is as good as mine. Juniper.


    But Nova had always defended me as much as she could, except from the situations that she wasn’t able to defend me. Like what happenedst night.


    Wait.


    <b>“</b>How long have I been here?”


    “A week,” she said tly.


    <b>My </b>blood ran cold and I jolted up, ignoring the pain in my head. “What?”


    But then, Nova smirked. “Kidding. It’s only been a few hours. Apparently, you had a concussion, and <b>you </b>passed out.”


    I swallowed. Nova pulled the chair closer to my bed and took a seat, and then she leaned forward, her brows furrowing in worry and something else that I recognized as anger.


    I looked away. “How did you know I was here?”


    <b>“</b>Nuh–uh,” Nova snapped, shaking her head. “<b>You’re </b>not going to ask the questions here: I am. And you have a lot of bloody exining to do, Meadow. But first, how are you feeling?”


    I leaned back into the bed, heaving a sigh.


    <b>“</b>Not great. My head hurts, and I’m pretty sure Juniper pulled some of my hair from the scalp.”


    <b>Nova’s </b>nostrils red and her eyes started to water but she blinked repeatedly. “I’m so pissed at you right <b>now</b><b>, </b><b>you </b>have no idea.” She ran her hand through her hair. “Why didn’t you tell me she was back<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    “It’s been <b>a </b>crazy weekend, Nova. I can’t… I was going to tell you but I didn’t know where <b>to </b>start-<b>” </b>


    <b>“</b>Yeah, <b>you </b>probably should’ve started with the fact that you got married.” My breath caught but she


    continued. “Or maybe the fact that Tyler cheated with Juniper.”


    <b>“</b>You know <b>about </b>ric<b>,</b><b>” </b>I breathed,


    “Duh.” Nova rolled her eyes. “Who do <b>you </b>think contacted me and told me you were in the hospital? I have been worried sick, Meadow. I’ve been trying to reach you for three damn days<b>, </b>unable to sleep a wink, and you were busy getting married to a fucking billionaire<b>? </b>I thought something bad had happened!”


    I shut my eyes<b>. </b>“Nov-<i>” </i>


    “And then you get back,” she choked out, then cleared her throat. Nova was easily emotionally overwhelmed. “And you move into his house, and you don’t call to tell me that Tyler and Juniper are a thing, and you go to that damn apartment. Alone. Fuck!”


    +15 <b>BONUS </b>


    She sprung <b>to </b>her <b>feet</b><b>, </b>turning away from me.


    <b>“</b>I was going <b>to </b><b>tell </b>you, I swear. There just wasn’t enough time.<b>” </b>


    “Well, I’m here now!” She snapped, turning to face me again. “So tell me. I want to know <b>every </b>single thing that happened over the weekend and how the fuck <b>you </b>ended up with a big ass rock on your finger.”


    <b>“</b>Okay<b>.</b>” I let out a shaky breath, the ache in my chest spreading as she sat back down on the chair and took my hands in hers, waiting for me to talk.


    And so I told her. Everything.


    Well, everything except the part where I was thirsty for sex. So thirsty that I had asked him to take my virginity<b>–</b>which was one of the reasons I agreed to marry him.


    The only reason, actually.


    Untilst night happened.


    I kept my voice low and t, afraid that if I let too much emotion slip through, I’d fall apart all over again. <b>Nova </b>sat through most of it, her eyes wide and face pale. She blinked only once when I mentioned the contract, and again when I admitted I never actually nned to sign it–but wasn’t sure anymore.


    And when I finished, she didn’t say a word for two long, torturous minutes.


    And then- “So, let me get this straight.” Her voice was quiet. Damn dangerous. A pissed off <b>Nova </b>was not a nice–to–be–around Nova. “You ran to Las Vegas to get married to that fucking bastard, caught him fucking Juniper<b>, </b>met a man you didn’t know–same man who called me. And now you’re wearing his ring and living in his house?”


    <b>I </b>nodded.


    <b>Nova’s </b>nostrils red. “Meadow. What the actual fuck.<b>” </b>


    A strangled<b>, </b>awkwardugh escaped me. “Yeah. That about sums it up.”


    <b>Nova </b>looked like her brain was overheating. She rubbed her temples as if she was physically trying to


    reboot.


    “And this ric <b>guy</b>… he just offered? Like ‘hey, wanna marry me <b>so </b>I’ll ruin your cheating ex <b>for </b>you?”


    I swallowed. “Pretty much.”


    “And he’s like… sane?”


    “Did he look insane to you?” I asked, arching my brow.


    Nova shrugged. “I don’t know. I haven’t met him. I just got a call saying that you were in the hospital and just a brief exnation.” She heaved a sigh. “But when <b>I </b>got here<b>, </b><b>I </b>didn’t see him. All I had was his name


    +15 <b>BONUS </b>


    <b>and </b>all <b>I’ve </b>been doing since I was waiting for you to wake up was googling him. The guy is a fucking


    billionaire, Meadow.”


    Her <b>eyes </b>were wide with wonder as she shook her head.


    “I know,<i>” </i>I muttered.


    <b>Nova </b>ran a hand through her hair. “Fucking hell, I can’t take this. But at least he’s not the reason <b>you’re </b>in the hospital. Where the hell is Juniper?” she asked, the sides of her mouth pulling down into an ugly


    <b>scowl</b>.


    I stiffened.


    “I swear to God,<i>” </i>she muttered, rising from the chair. <b>“</b><b>If </b><b>I </b>find her first-<b>” </b>


    <b>“</b><b>Nova</b>, don’t,” I said quickly. “Seriously. Just let it go.”


    Those words burned my tongue as I said them, and I suppose I wasn’t the only one who felt that way.


    Nova whirled around. “Let it go? Meadow, she tried to fucking kill you. And Tyler? He–he tried to-” her voice cracked and she bit down on her lip. “They can’t walk free like that. They can’t just-<b>” </b>


    “Who says they’re walking free?”


    Both Nova and I froze, turning toward the direction those words hade from. That voice. That deep,


    sultry voice.


    <b>My </b>savior<b>. </b>


    <b>My </b>husband.